COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW – PART 13 – BIG TEN EXTRAS
Big Ten Unit Rankings
Quarterback
- Ohio State
- Iowa
- Illinois
Runningback
- Wisconsin
- Michigan State
- Penn State
Recievers
- Michigan
- Penn State
- Nebraska
O-Line
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Indiana
D-Line
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Michigan State
Linebacker
- Michigan State
- Wisconsin
- Ohio State
D-Backs
- Michigan
- Iowa
- Northwestern
OVERRATED – Michigan, Wisconsin
UNDERRATED – Michigan State
BIG TEN QUICK Q/A
Q: Ohio State or Michigan in the East Division?
A: Don’t overlook Michigan State in the East, as they get both Ohio State and Michigan at home. However the favorites are Ohio State and Michigan and while I do think Michigan is a good team, I feel they are being a tad bit overhyped, this is a team that went 5-7 two years ago, and now people are selling them as playoff contenders? I don’t buy it. So to answer the question, Ohio State.
Q: Can anyone challenge Iowa in the West?
A: I doubt it. They probably won’t go 12-0 like they did last year (although it’s not out of the question) but to me it seems like they are the overwhelming favorites in the West division. They get all of their three top challengers, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, at home.
Q: Which new coach will do the best this year?
A: There are four new coaches in the Big Ten this year: Lovie Smith (Illinois), Chris Ash (Rutgers), Tracy Claeys (Minnesota) and D.J. Durkin (Maryland). I would say probably Minnesota’s new coach Tracy Claeys, as he as coached many games at Minnesota due to Jerry Kill’s health problems so he has experience with all of the players there.